CHAPTER 3

     Martial arts were prevalent in the Phoenix Cry Empire, and fighting was unavoidable. That was why there was a life and death stage outside the capital. That was where people could settle their personal grudges.

Here, as long as both sides agreed and signed a life and death contract, then even if they killed each other on the martial stage, they wouldn't be punished by the empire's laws.

Normally, there would be countless people watching, and today there were also many. But after the matches ended, when two youths stepped onto the stage, a commotion broke out.

"Isn't that Long Chen? Why is he here again? "

"Yeah, he was almost beaten to death yesterday. Why is he here again today?"

"Hmph, he probably doesn't want to live anymore and wants to be beaten to death here."

Long Tianxiao's title was Zhenyuan Hou, and he was known as a generation's military god. But the people who truly called him a military god were those poor commoners who suffered the torment of war all year round.

As for those people in the capital who were either rich or noble, they lived a peaceful life. They didn't even place Long Tianxiao, who was born a commoner, in their eyes. That was why there weren't many people in the capital who thought highly of Long Chen.

"Long Chen, you trash, why are you here again? Aren't you just wasting your time? Who wants to watch your martial arts competition? Hurry up and scram! "

"Yeah, if you want to kill yourself, you should find a place with no one around. No one wants to watch a piece of trash. It's too much of a waste of time."

The hundreds of spectators all began to loudly curse, clearly extremely disgusted with Long Chen.

However, in an inconspicuous corner far away, two young girls wearing veils were watching the figure on the stage with rapt attention.

"Sister, that's your fiance? Why does he look so weak? There's not even the slightest fluctuation on his body. "One of the maidens was a bit disappointed.

"Hmph, isn't it all because dad took matters into his own hands? Back then he arranged for me to marry him. How infuriating!" The other maiden was extremely annoyed.

On the martial stage, Long Chen didn't have the slightest idea that there were two maidens watching them. But towards those curses, he also didn't have the slightest reaction. He just indifferently looked at Li Hao.

Li Hao pointed at the restless crowd and sneered, "Do you see? You're just an unwelcome piece of trash. If you know what's good for you, you should just kill yourself."

Long Chen only indifferently looked at him, not saying a word.

Dong!

The sound of a bell rang out. That was the signal for the duel to begin. Once the bell rang out, life and death hung by a thread.

The originally noisy crowd quieted down because of the bell's ringing. After all, this was a life and death battle. It was hard to say when someone would lose their life.

"Sister, that fiance of yours doesn't have the slightest cultivation base. He's facing a fellow at the third Heavenstage of Qi Condensation. Aren't you worried?" asked the maiden.

"Hmph, what's there to worry about? If he dies then so be it. What does it have to do with me?" The other maiden lightly snorted. But as she spoke, an extremely strange silk net appeared in her hand.

"Hehe, you still say you don't care? You've even prepared a weapon. Looks like you still care about him. But don't say, although his cultivation base is trash, his looks really are amazing. How about, sister, you don't want him and give him to me?" That maiden giggled.

"What nonsense. Do you think that kind of thing can be given away so casually? If you like him, you can wait until after I cancel the engagement with him. Then you can do whatever you want with him, "angrily said the other maiden.

"Hehe."

On the martial stage, Long Chen was still as calm as water. Compared to yesterday's gnashing teeth, he was like a completely different person.

"Long Chen, is it because you're about to die that you've calmed down? Don't worry, because of your bet, I won't beat you to death today. "Li Hao proudly said.

"You really talk too much. Hurry up and do it, I still have things to do in a bit." Long Chen was a bit impatient.

Because the entire arena was very quiet, Long Chen's words were transmitted to everyone's ears. In an instant, the entire martial stage exploded with ridicule.

"Li Hao, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and beat this scoundrel to death, he really is too disgusting!"

Someone recognized Li Hao and immediately shouted.

A cold smile appeared on Li Hao's face and he no longer hesitated. His full strength belonging to the third Heavenstage of Qi Condensation exploded out. Stepping off the martial stage, he pounced towards Long Chen and punched out.

As soon as Li Hao attacked, the crowd exploded with cheers. Li Hao's posture was very beautiful and very handsome.

"What a good move, Wind Jade Tree Fist!"

Some people recognized this move, but the two women in the distance both secretly spat on the ground, their mouths curling into ridicule.

Long Chen's mouth also curled into a ridiculing smile: this kind of idiotic move, full of loopholes, can be used against an opponent?

Seeing a fist smashing towards his face, a strong wind whistled through the air, but Long Chen acted as if he didn't see it and didn't move.

"Haha, this trash, he doesn't even know how to dodge!" Someone below the stage ridiculed.

But just as he finished his ridicule, Li Hao's fist had already stopped three inches in front of Long Chen's face, completely motionless.

Those people who had been ridiculing to their heart's content were immediately silenced. They saw Long Chen's leg had extended out and his foot had viciously kicked the space between Li Hao's legs.

The originally radiant Li Hao's face was now as purple as an eggplant. Long Chen's kick clearly wasn't very comfortable for him. The intense pain caused his face to distort and he couldn't move.

He couldn't move, but Long Chen could. The moment he stopped, Long Chen's hands grabbed Li Hao's hair and pulled him back. At the same time, his own knee smashed out.

BANG, BANG, BANG!

Long Chen's movements were extremely pleasing to the eye. His movements and his voice gave people an extremely strong visual impact and a lively rhythm.

The sound of bones breaking rang out. Li Hao had suffered three heavy blows in a row. His nose had already deformed and his face was covered in blood. He had already fainted.

For a moment, the entire arena was completely silent. No one had expected that a third Heavenstage Qi Condensation expert would be defeated so quickly by a trash who didn't have the slightest cultivation base.

Furthermore, he had used the cleanest and most efficient method to defeat him. This result was like a ruthless slap on the face of the group of people who were clamoring.

Even the two women who were secretly watching from a distance were shocked. Li Hao was nothing in front of them. They could kill him with a wave of their hands.

But Long Chen was different. From start to finish, he hadn't used the slightest bit of spiritual qi. He had completely used a mortal's fighting style to defeat Li Hao.

"Long Chen wins!"

A voice came from below the arena. It was an elder who was in charge of the arena and was in charge of announcing the results.

Long Chen's chest heaved up and down a few times. He had to use a great deal of willpower to suppress his killing intent. Now wasn't the best time to kill someone.

But after being suppressed for so long, it was very difficult for him to withdraw his killing intent. To the outside world, they would think that Long Chen was so excited that he had lost all his strength in his arms and legs and was gasping for breath.

Long Chen walked off the arena and walked over to the elder's side. He put away the long saber he had bet on and also received a crystal card with five thousand gold coins.

The rules here were that before the match, the bet had to be handed over to the judge to show fairness. This also prevented any possibility of reneging.

After receiving the precious saber, Long Chen directly returned it to Shi Feng. He put away the crystal card and couldn't help feeling a bit excited.

Although five thousand gold coins wasn't much, it was enough to solve some urgent problems. The Long family's salary had already been deducted for a very long time. Now the Long family really was running out of money.

In front of countless people's gazes, the two of them slowly left. Seeing Long Chen leave, the two maidens also disappeared.

The news of Long Chen defeating Li Hao seemed to have grown legs and immediately spread throughout the entire imperial capital, causing countless people to be puzzled. How could a trash who couldn't even practice martial arts suddenly become so powerful?

But with countless people personally witnessing it, and with the news of Li Hao being carried back to his mansion, many people were unable to accept it.

After Long Chen and Shi Feng left, Long Chen originally wanted to split the spoils with Shi Feng, but Shi Feng refused no matter what. In the end, he excused himself as an excuse and left. He didn't even ask Long Chen why he had suddenly become so strong.

Remembering this favor in his heart, Long Chen went straight to the Hundred Herb Hall. After entering, Long Chen asked for a list of the medicinal ingredients here.

On it was clearly recorded the names and prices of all the medicinal ingredients. Long Chen saw the majority of the medicinal ingredients needed to refine the FengFu Pill. Luckily the medicinal ingredients needed to refine the FengFu Pill weren't especially rare.

But looking at the prices on it, Long Chen's heart was dripping blood. The gold coins he had were only enough to buy three sets of ingredients.

But he couldn't buy all the ingredients. He still needed to buy a pill cauldron as well as some other medicinal ingredients. The gold coins he had were just a drop in the bucket.

But not buying was also impossible. Long Chen clenched his teeth and spent 1200 gold coins to buy the lowest quality bronze cauldron.

He also bought another set of medicinal ingredients for the FengFu Pill as well as a large amount of medicinal ingredients for the Qi Returning Powder. When Long Chen left the Hundred Herb Hall, his crystal card only had 500 gold coins left.

Returning home, Long Chen went straight to his room and locked the door. He had Bao-er tell everyone not to disturb him.

He knew his mother would definitely know that he had gone to the martial arts competition. Afraid that she would be worried, he had Bao-er block her. In any case, he was fine so his mother shouldn't be too worried.

Right now he had to seize every second to quickly increase his strength. The Long family's current predicament wasn't as simple as it seemed on the surface. Long Chen smelled a sense of danger.

"Whew."

Long Chen circulated his spiritual qi and a ball of flame appeared in his palm. This was the Pill Flame condensed by a Pill Master. But looking at that ball of flame, Long Chen didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This ball of flame was a bit too weak.

A Pill Flame was a flame condensed by a Pill Master's own spiritual qi through a special method. But the current Pill Flame Long Chen had condensed was extremely low in temperature, not much stronger than ordinary flames.

Furthermore, Long Chen found that without the support of his Dantian, his Pill Flame wouldn't last for more than a quarter of an hour. It was far from enough time to refine a medicinal pill.

Long Chen bitterly smiled. Luckily he had a backup plan. Long Chen didn't refine a medicinal pill. He first placed the medicinal ingredients for the Qi Returning Powder into the cauldron and refined them one by one. But he didn't use a Pill Flame, but a wood flame.

Once all the medicinal ingredients were refined, there was an entire jar of Qi Returning Elixir beside him. After resting for a moment, Long Chen took a deep breath.